Portable window-scaffold



(No Model.)

A. 8; O. STAUBER. PORTABLE WINDOW SGAFFOLD.

No. 480,046. PatentedAug. 2, 1892.

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NITED STATES ATENT FFlCEe PORTABLE WlNDOW-SCAFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 480,046, dated August 2, 1892. Application filed March 1, 1892. Serial No. 423,418. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ADOLPH STAUBER and CARL STAUBER, citizens of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the eountyof Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Window-Seaffolds; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention has reference to improve ments in portable window scaffolds 0r platforms; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple, safe, easily-removed, and easily-placed device by which a person can be safely supported on the outside of the building for the purpose of ready access to the outside of the window for cleansing orotherpurposes.

The invention consists in a horizontal platform projected outwardly through the window, provided on its outer portion with suitable guard-railing, in connection with appliances for engaging the inner surface of the window, while the inner end of said platform is adjustably supported from the floor of the apartment. A further idea is to sustain the weight of the occupant on the outside of the window by means of diagonal chains attached to a transverse rod orbar projected across the window-opening on the inner surface thereof and engaging the window-jambs and in supporting this bar centrallyfrom the upper surface of said platform within the window, so that the downward draft of the diagonal chains aforesaid will serve to hold the inner end of the platform downward and the supporting-legs of said platform within the window in constant contact with the floor of the apartment, the platform having thereby two bearingsone on the window-sill and one on the floor-to prevent tilting.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of the window provided with our invention.

Fig. 2 is the end elevation viewed from within the apartment. Fig. 3 is a detail of the side guards.

A A are the sides or jambs of an ordinary window, and B the sill thereof.

0 represents the floor of the apartment.

D is the main platform, provided on the exterior of the window with folding side rails E E and folding outer end rail F.

G G are legs crossed centrally and pivotallyattached, respectively,at their upper ends to the inner end of the platform D, near the inner corners thereof. The legs G are each provided about centrally with longitudinal slots H, within which is seated a transverse bolt J, having washers at the outer surfaces of said legs of sufficient width to project over the walls of the slots H, and thereby compress the legs G G centrally and prevent their widening at their lower extremities. Said bolt J is provided with a thumb-nut for convenience in adjusting. By means of the slots H H the legs G G may be crossed at any desired angle to change the altitude of said platform to the varying distances which the sill of the window may be above the floor of the apartment in different instances. On the platform D, slightly within the jambs A A when said platform is in position, is hinged a short horizontal post K. To the upper end of the post K is attached in any suitable mode cross-bar L, of sufiicient length to extend at each end beyond the jambs A A.

To the bar L, slightly within the jambs A A, are respectively attached the chains M M, which are extended outwardly and diagonally downward and attached at their outer ends in any suitable mode to the sides of the platform D, nearthe outer end of the latter. The weight of the occupant upon the outer portion of the platform B bears downwardly on the chains M M and necessarily through the latter upon the bar L, thereby keeping the legs G in contact with the floor. The chains M M also serve somewhat as side guards on said platform. The end guard F is hinged to the outer end of the platform in such mode as to fall inward upon the latter when not in use, but not to pass outwardly beyond the vertical position. The side guards E consist of vertical posts NN, hinged at their bases lengthwise to the platform D, and horizontal parallel bars 0, pivotally attached at their respective ends to the posts N N, so the side guards E when not in use may be folded from the guard F lengthwise of the platform D out of the way of said end guard. The side and end guards may be connected at their outer ends of the 5 platform D by an ordinary hook and staple.

A transverse cleat P under platform D engages the outside of the window-sill to pre vent inward slipping.

Our invention is put in operation by projecting the outer end of the platform D through the window and adjusting the legs Gr G at such height that when the latter are resting upon the floor G the platform D is resting upon the sill of the window. In that position the bolt J is tightened. The bar L is in constant contact with the inner surface of the window-jambs A A, and the chains M M may be provided with a hook at the ends thereof, which pass around the bar L, so as to give the outer portion of the platform D any desired elevation by hooking said chains back upon themselves after they have passed around the bar L. The guards E and F are then raised into position and fastened at their outer corners by hook and staple, the staple being upon one of said parts and the hook upon the other.

As will be seen, the device can be readily put in position and as readily removed. The parts are simple and strong and give entire security to the occupant; also, but very little room is required for storing the device when not in use.

In devices heretofore employed in which a feature analogous to the cross-bar L was employed the same was not in direct contact with the window-jambs nor supplied with the diagonal down-chains, as in this case,by which the weight of the occupant outside of the window drew outwardly upon said cross-bar through the medium of the post K to hold down the inner end of the platform against the tilting effect of the said occupant.

The advantage of the diagonal character of the legs G consists in the fact that the legs oppositely brace the inner end of the platform against lateral movement.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The combination of the platform D, provided with exterior marginal guards,the vertical post K, hinged at its base at the center of the inner end of the said platform, the transverse bar L, adapted to extend in each direction beyond the jambs of the window and supported from the inner end of said platform by the post K, the chains M, adjustably attached at their upper ends to the bar It and extended diagonally outwardly and downwardly therefrom and attached at their outer ends to the outer portion. of the platform I), and the legs G, pivoted, respectively, at their upper ends to the inner end of the platform D near the corners of the latter and crossed midway of their length and adapted to rest at their lower ends on the floor of the building and further provided centrally with the longitudinal slots II, and the adjusting-bolt J through said slots, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPHI STAUBER. CARL STAUBER.

Witnesses:

W. J. MCCOY, E. J. Bnnssnve'rou. 

